I just ran across THIS article from a year ago. In it, JJ Abrams briefly discusses ideas for Into Darkness that didn't make it:

“But when you have a movie that’s two hours long, and a group of over half a dozen critical characters demanding attention, it’s hard to find time for all the nuances you want. There was [an idea] implying the sexuality of one of the characters, a back story for another character that was pretty intense, a really funny story we wanted to do with yet another. Hopefully, if there are future films, those other stories will get their moment.”

Sounds fascinating. I hope this stuff is built upon in the next movie.

Sexuality = Spock (explains why he is so angry all the time, he doesn't accept or understand the feelings he faces for a close male companion)
Funny = Kirk (he keeps making schoolboy-esque comments and slip-ups with members of the opposite sex, ending in hilarity)
Intense = Chekov (the genetic engineering used to speed up his aging has some serious repercussions)

“But when you have a movie that’s two hours long, and a group of over half a dozen critical characters demanding attention, it’s hard to find time for all the nuances you want. There was [an idea] implying the sexuality of one of the characters, a back story for another character that was pretty intense, a really funny story we wanted to do with yet another. Hopefully, if there are future films, those other stories will get their moment.”

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JJ Abrams didn't expand upon a character who might have a different orientation than all our straight characters? Can't say I'm not surprised given how he thought it was more important to have a build up and pay off to seeing Carol Marcus undress in front of Kirk for no reason. And when he tried to defend this decision by saying Kirk was in his underwear too (Even though the said scene was focused on two half naked alien women and not him) and how he shot a scene of Khan taking a shower (Which he cut out of the movie), I guess you could say he had his priorities straight.

“But when you have a movie that’s two hours long, and a group of over half a dozen critical characters demanding attention, it’s hard to find time for all the nuances you want. There was [an idea] implying the sexuality of one of the characters, a back story for another character that was pretty intense, a really funny story we wanted to do with yet another. Hopefully, if there are future films, those other stories will get their moment.”

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JJ Abrams didn't expand upon a character who might have a different orientation than all our straight characters? Can't say I'm not surprised given how he thought it was more important to have a build up and pay off to seeing Carol Marcus undress in front of Kirk for no reason. And when he tried to defend this decision by saying Kirk was in his underwear too (Even though the said scene was focused on two half naked alien women and not him) and how he shot a scene of Khan taking a shower (Which he cut out of the movie), I guess you could say he had his priorities straight.

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Jeyl, do you suppose you could participate in a discussion of this article—here, now, in this thread—and not do your old trick of simply repeating harangues already made in previous threads (e.g.: last year's Carol Marcus thread)? Seriously, it's boring, it's not contributing to the conversation, and besides, you've been asked before to refrain from doing that.

^Why can't you just accept that Chekov was a very smart boy taken in early to the Academy who did very well and was assigned to the Enterprise like all of the other cadets as a sink-or swim measure?

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I can accept that, although I can't accept him being promoted to chief engineer after only a year as an ensign...

I think the more important issue is probably that while he may have the same name, he isn't actually the same person as the prime timeline since he is the product of a different sperm and ovum. Of course, one could say the same thing about every other character born after Nero's appearance as well but in Chekov's case it's a definite. Either Pavel Prime doesn't exist or in this reality, Chekov really has a brother. The latter would be a nice twist actually.

As an aside, since this Chekov is a different person, his sexuality is entirely up for grabs.

No definites about it. For Chekov to be a different person, you have to prove he was telling the truth about his age in "Plato's Stepchildren", or that there were no time dilation or other temporal shenanigans involving him prior to his time on the Enterprise.

There was a character named Pavel Chekov in TOS, there's a character named Pavel Chekov in nuTrek, they serve the same function. This guy's younger, McCoy's taller...same characters, different details.

I just ran across THIS article from a year ago. In it, JJ Abrams briefly discusses ideas for Into Darkness that didn't make it:

“But when you have a movie that’s two hours long, and a group of over half a dozen critical characters demanding attention, it’s hard to find time for all the nuances you want. There was [an idea] implying the sexuality of one of the characters, a back story for another character that was pretty intense, a really funny story we wanted to do with yet another. Hopefully, if there are future films, those other stories will get their moment.”

Sounds fascinating. I hope this stuff is built upon in the next movie.

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Where are you getting a gay character out of this quote? Just the "implying the sexuality" thing? That doesn't necessarily mean that someone is gay.

There was a character named Pavel Chekov in TOS, there's a character named Pavel Chekov in nuTrek, they serve the same function. This guy's younger, McCoy's taller...same characters, different details.

The sexuality issue could've been about Spock. A lot of questions about Vulcan sexuality can be explored because of the growing relationship between Spock and Uhura.

Are Vulcans sexual creatures? That is, do Vulcans have sexual feelings towards someone? Pon farr itself may just be an incredible urge to mate for procreation, not a desire to express sexual feelings for the pleasure of it. Bear in mind Vulcans seem a bit embarrassed by pon farr and the feelings it unleashes.

To a Vulcan, can sex be solely for the pleasure of sex? Is it logical? Sex is one of the ultimate emotional experiences. For humans, it can be an essential part of a relationship. But would engaging in it purely for the fun of it and both the emotional bond and release it creates be contradictory to Vulcan stoicism? Do Vulcans even have a libido to be satisfied?

I would think that those questions have to be answered before the relationship between Spock and Uhura can advance beyond simply stealing kisses and caring for each other.

No definites about it. For Chekov to be a different person, you have to prove he was telling the truth about his age in "Plato's Stepchildren", or that there were no time dilation or other temporal shenanigans involving him prior to his time on the Enterprise.

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Lol! If we couldn't even trust canon to be canon there would be anarchy! Oh, wait...

However, it is a valid point even if it doesn't explain why Scotty's personality is very different. Maybe he's a changeling?

though, the vibe I get is that JJ is talking about secondary characters that didn't get any character development so far. In fact, the interview asked if Spock/Uhura were supposed to be the only ones that got screentime and if the writers had ideas for the others too. And JJ said they did but they have too many characters to develop in a small time.
I think he was talking about Sulu, Chekov, Scotty and McCoy.
Anyone but Kirk and Spock who are the protagonists and thus get plenty of screentime already.

A lot of questions about Vulcan sexuality can be explored because of the growing relationship between Spock and Uhura.

Are Vulcans sexual creatures? That is, do Vulcans have sexual feelings towards someone? Pon farr itself may just be an incredible urge to mate for procreation, not a desire to express sexual feelings for the pleasure of it. Bear in mind Vulcans seem a bit embarrassed by pon farr and the feelings it unleashes.

To a Vulcan, can sex be solely for the pleasure of sex? Is it logical? Sex is one of the ultimate emotional experiences. For humans, it can be an essential part of a relationship. But would engaging in it purely for the fun of it and both the emotional bond and release it creates be contradictory to Vulcan stoicism? Do Vulcans even have a libido to be satisfied?

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It's logical because it's biology
(and vulcans are adept about finding excuses for themselves... see the whole 'vulcans don't lie' whatever guys )
we do know that pon farr isn't the only time they mate or can mate, it just is the time they have to do it.
Pon farr is itself a reminder of the true nature of the vulcans because let's not forget that to their core they're actually far more emotional and passionate than the humans.
Why you think they are so scared to have emotions?
Why should the vulcans need to be so obsessed about control while humans can be emotional creatures without the need to seek control to that level?
Because vulcans have more powerful emotions than us, in fact their society and race was almost destroyed because of that, until a dude called Surak decided that the best solution for their race was the mastery of control of their emotions and embracing logic...but even then some groups disagreed and thought that the best way to not let their emotions destroy them was embracing them instead. ( E.g., the romulans and people like Spock's brother)

“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.” - Oscar Wilde
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Might have a point

In a way, it could be actually interesting to see how the destruction of their home planet in the reboot affected their race as a whole and might have altered their philosophy a bit too.
The comics had put some hints about it so far. Like the vulcans that seek revenge after what happened to their planet or those who reverted back to pre-surak state because they couldn't endure the grief and the loss of their planet and loved ones. It's implied for example that the vulcans are starting to realize that they can't be stuck to some of their traditions anymore (like the way they deal with pon farr itself and the arranged bonds things). The loss of their planet was something too big and nothing they could be prepared to face. It's the ultimate test for their race and that might just show their biggest vulnerability and that control isn't enough.

The way I see it, vulcans love and hate with more passion than us. They're just good at hiding it in public and maintain a facade.
as for Spock, due to his human/vulcan heritage it's quite possible, in reality, that he has vulcan feelings but his control is predominantly human (and thus weaker) and that's what makes it even harder for him than the other vulcans.

however, it seems to me that he's almost more vulcan 'in character' with Uhura than with the others. He's like more peaceful with her and seems to find a balance between his control and the need to embrace his emotions. This might be due to the fact that they're already a couple and when they're together, in private, he's allowed to express his feelings with her and to her in a way he isn't with others so the rest of the time and when they are with the others he's able to behave

I would think that those questions have to be answered before the relationship between Spock and Uhura can advance beyond simply stealing kisses and caring for each other.

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didn't the official comics show them naked in his bed at one point? ...

I don't think that the movies need to show the same thing in order to make me understand that there is a certain level of intimacy between the two that goes beyond a kiss.
Knowing Spock and the vulcans, things like the way he put his face in the space between her neck and shoulder in that hug or him placing his hand a bit too close to her butt on that transport pad, lol, speak volumes and suggest me that this man is familiar with this woman and her body and he's both used to her touch and to touch her.
Subtle and effective IMO

No definites about it. For Chekov to be a different person, you have to prove he was telling the truth about his age in "Plato's Stepchildren", or that there were no time dilation or other temporal shenanigans involving him prior to his time on the Enterprise.

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My theory is that he is the exact same person, his parents had him frozen as an embryo and the age difference is because they implanted him at a different time in the JJTimeline.